THE GODMOTHER OF MOTOCROSS
Debbie has been featured in multiple media outlets including television, radio, newspaper, and magazines spanning her career, and was dubbed by the late Erv Braun, AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross announcer as "The Voice of Women's Motocross, and the “Godmother of Women’s MX" because of her tireless efforts to promote and position Women's Motocross into mainstream America. Debbie has been host to two weekly Women's Extreme Sports Radio shows and is a published author of Excelling Through Adversity and is currently writing a second book, a memoir chronicling Women’s Motocross history that contains stories and pictures from fellow women racers, sponsors and industry personnel detailing events from that era of history.
Empowering Women in Motocross
Debbie retired from the WML in June of 1999 to dedicate herself full time to the promotion, marketing, and teaching of women's motocross. The result was the creation of WSMX, Inc. During this time, Debbie not only ran the daily operations of WSMX, but she was also the head coach. Debbie also created a sister company, DMSports, that ran national race programs, in addition to assisting riders with gaining sponsorship, introducing them to Teams; and in the case of Jacqueline Strong, fully sponsoring her effort for two years. In her first season with Debbie, Jacqueline’s national professional ranking went from National#10 to National #4 in the AMA Women’s Nationals.
In 1997, Debbie was a member of WMN-Women’s Motorcycling network, comprised of industry experts on the women’s market, organized by the AMA. During 2000-02, Debbie was a member of the AMA advisory committee for the Motorcycle Hall of Fame and Museum and conducted a MX school and off-road motorcycle demos during the 2000 and 2002 AMA Women's conference. The school and demo were so popular that the class sold out and over 200 women street riders demo'd off-road bikes during the conference. During the 2000 AMA Women in Motorcycling conference, Debbie was recognized by the AMA in the Women in Motorcycling exhibit in the following areas: Business, Organizations, Racing, and Media. The exhibit toured the country for several years.
In 2014, Debbie founded POWR-Professional Organization of Women’s Racing to further develop Women’s racing opportunities across the globe. The POWR Kickoff event generated a $15,000 Women’s Pro Purse and Bonus program, the largest, in the history of Women’s Motocross at the time, drawing women competitors from across the world.
Trailblazer on and off the Track
HONORING A MOTOCROSS LEGEND
In 1998 she received the AMA MVP award, in 2012, Debbie was honored by her Racing Peers So Cal Pros with a Lifetime Appreciation Award for her dedication and commitment to Motorcycling, with over 30 years as a Women’s advocate! In 2021, Debbie was inducted into the Hot Shoe Hall of Fame as an Icon in Las Vegas, NV, and in 2023 Debbie was inducted as a Ambassador into the Universal Motorsports Museum.
PIONEERING PROGRESS
In 1994, while Debbie was still a racing professional, she was recruited by the U.S. Women's Motocross Team as their Promotion/Race Director. Within a year, Debbie became co-director of the TEAM effort. In 1995 while a director, Debbie developed, organized, and promoted Free Women Only Motocross schools, promoted World Cup Motocross Championships, and developed and managed the AMA/MTEG Stadiumcross Championships. In 1996 Debbie Co-Founded the WML-Women’s Motocross League and organized and managed the 1996 WML WML/AMA National Motocross Championship Series run in conjunction with the AMA Men's Outdoor National MX, all while still competing at these events from 1994-2001.
DRIVEN TO WIN
As a successful off-road Amateur and Professional competitor for 27 years, Debbie finished in the Pro National top 5 5 times, as well as 4 times as a vet pro, 3 times at the Ladies World Cup, and was the 1988 Women’s National Vet Champion.
Debbie holds the record for the longest consecutive pro and amateur career span in Women's Motocross competition (27 years). As well as the record for top 15 Women Professional National rankings in motocross, finishing inside the top 15 national pro women in the country every year from 1977 to 1997. (20 years!!)
Debbie had the privilege of competing in 5 Supercross Exhibitions during her career, spanning the 80’s and 90’s, as well as competing in the inaugural Women’s Professional 1995- AMA/MTEG Women’s Stadiumcross series, featuring Selected Supercross and Ultracross events, finishing 8th in the series, while managing the event Race Director duties as well.
TRAINING PRO
Debbie received her motocross training from some of the most Renowned Legends of the sport, including Rolf Tibblin, Mark Blackwell, Kent Howerton and Warren Reid. Through their tutoring Debbie became known as one of the most technical female riders in the world with her smooth, effortless style and tenacious attitude.
AMA Pro Supercross and National champions Doug Dubach, Jeff Emig, Mike Keidrowski and Greg Albertyn offered their talents freely to coach alongside Debbie during her WSMX Women’s Motocross School Boot Camps, giving other riders the same opportunity, she had received to learn from the best.
In 2003, Debbie was the first female selected to be a Motocross Trainer for the FCA-Fellowship of Christian Athletes Motocross Camp. In 2004, while working with a student, Debbie sacrificed herself to protect the student from serious injury and in doing so, ended her pro racing career with a traumatic brain injury and serious shoulder complications. After three years of surgeries, brain mapping and physical therapy, Debbie was able to return to training and continues to train upcoming riders, employing additional professional riders as coaches.
Debbie has worked industry events alongside Pro riders and Industry icons in media functions, charity events, public relations, promotions, and in assisting in the creation of opportunities within the sport. In 2019 Feld Entertainment enlisted the services of Debbie as a consultant to the SXF-Supercross Futures program to help grow the women’s program.
Lobbying for Women
Debbie got her feet wet as a lobbyist in 1975, at the age of 17. She was the President of Canyon High School’s Motocross Team located in Anaheim Hills, CA, and competed regularly in High School Motocross. She also petitioned the Orange County School Board to recognize High School Motocross as a CIF sport. In 1997, Debbie met with the AMA-American Motorcyclist Association, and they agreed to include Women’s Motocross Champions into their Pro banquet Award ceremonies.
In 1994, Debbie met with Danny Thompson of MTEG-the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group and created "Stadiumcross" for the women to race on the main night as part of the regular program. The following year Debbie, met with the AMA, the OEM’s (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha), and the NPG-National Promoters Group and co-created the first Women's professional Outdoor National Motocross Series Championship run in conjunction with the AMA Men’s Outdoor Nationals.
In 1997, Debbie was a Keynote Speaker during the inaugural AMA National Women in Motorcycling Conference speaking on Women in Competition. Following her speech, Debbie was invited by the President of the AMA, to meet with members of the AMA Congress to ratify changes in the AMA constitution giving women "A" Rider classification for the first time in history. After a brief presentation, the board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
In 1998 Debbie worked closely with several Factory and Satellite race teams and the Women’s Sports Foundation to add women riders to team rosters. Nikki Harris and Tania Satchwell were the first to receive support during SX from Planet Honda in their attempt to qualify for Men’s Supercross. Later Jacqueline Strong, Jessica Patterson, Marissa Markelon and others were added to Satellite teams. Ashley Fiolek and Sayaka Kaneshiro were the first females to receive Factory support from Team Honda in 2007.
In 2016, Debbie was instrumental in introducing the RCH and Joe Gibbs racing Teams to the Microsoft Business Team interested in becoming a sponsor of Supercross. Following the introduction, Microsoft and RCH inked a deal for the 2017 series.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Debbie Matthews began her career in the Motorcycle industry in 1974 at the tender age of 15. Within four years she became one of the industry’s first female Parts managers and in subsequent years, also became one of the first female General Managers and Motorcycle Business owners as well.
With experience, came opportunities to work within the industry in many other capacities such as: Professional Women’s Motocross Athlete, Race Promoter, Ambassador, CEO, Event Manager, Board Member, Mentor, Motocross Trainer, Journalist, Sponsorship Development Specialist, Athlete and event Sponsor, Photographer, Consultant, AMA Keynote Speaker, Team Manager, Radio Talk Show Host, Author, Lobbyist, Motivational Speaker, and Innovator.
What AMA Leaders are Saying
"We recently had the pleasure of meeting Debbie for the first time, on the day she was being inducted at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame as an Ambassador. Debbie and her daughter Heather were fully engaged in helping our daughter at age 6, gain confidence in her riding and have a lot of fun while doing it. They were helpful, encouraging and motivating.
Debbie did not hesitate to provide us with tips and advice as we are new to motorcycling, to help us gain the knowledge so necessary to help us succeed and keep not only our daughter safe, but retain a healthy and fun environment for us all to learn and grow. We check in with her weekly and are excited for her to return to Ohio to coach not only Sofia, but other riders in the area."
- Team Sophia
What AMA Leaders are Saying
"I must say your interview on Vintage MX Revisted, is the best interview I’ve ever seen with a rider/silent mechanic/ tech person. You are one of the most interesting people I’ve ever listened to and you had all of us wanting more.
I pray our paths cross because I want to thank you in person for your passion and all you have done for the greatest sport on earth. What an asset you are to the world of motor sports."
-Karl Wood